Device for fixedly connecting panels for use in building

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a device for fixedly connecting panels for use in building of structures such as a wall board, a partitioning board or the like, in which sheets of panel are clamped by a shaped material made of a hard synthetic resin or a metallic material such as aluminum or the like, said shaped material being provided with recesses; a plug is fitted in each recess, said plug being made of a resilient synthetic resin or rubber and having a hole; and a wedge is inserted in said plug through said hole, thus panels being firmly connected and retained in place.

United States Patent H [H1 3,896,598

Yoshida July 29, 1975 DEVICE FOR FIXEDLY CONNECTING PANELS FOR USE INBUILDING Tsukasa Yoshida, Fuchu. Japan Assignee: Tsukasa Yoshida, Fuchu..lapan Filed: Aug. 8, I974 App]. No.: 495,871

Inventor:

US. CI. 52/498; 52/495; 52/584 Int. Cl. E04B 2/72 Field of Search52/753, 468, 470, 47l,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,248,840 5/1966 Pettcrson"52/732 3.530.633 9/1970 Scott 52/460 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSUnited Kingdom 52/498 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser AssistantExaminer-Carl D. Friedman Attorney, Agent, or FirmMeyer, Tilberry & Body57 ABSTRACT I There is disclosed a device for fixedly connecting panelsfor use in building of structures such as a wall 3 board, a partitioningboard or the like, in which sheets of panel are clamped by a shapedmaterial made of a hard synthetic resin or a metallic material such'asaluminum or the like, said shaped material being provided with recesses;a plug is fitted in each recess, said plug being made of a resilientsynthetic resin or rubber and having a hole; and a wedge is inserted insaid plug through said hole, thus panels being firmly connected andretained in place.n

10 016mm,!) Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JUL 2 91975 SHEET (a IVillllfllflll PATENTED JUL 2 91975 SHEET DEVICE FOR FIXEDLY CONNECTINGPANELS FOR USE IN BUILDING DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In theconventional method for connecting panels for use in building such as awall board, a partitioning board or the like, connection of panels hasbeen made by means of screws or nails. The method, however, results insuch disadvantages that damage on 'panelis so frequent at the time ofattachment, and when replacement of a panel isrequired due to damagethereon or change of facings, the topmost panelmust, be firstly 'removedprior to the panel to be replaced. Accordingly, either attachment orreplacement of the panel is trou blesome and takes much time. i

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION A primal object of the present invention is toprovide a device for fixedly connecting panels for use in build- 7rubber, and a Wedge made of a hard material such as aluminum or thelike, rather than by means of nails or screws, and therefore, there isno necessity for atool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid connectionof panels which is performed by such a simple work that a plug isinserted in each of re- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A devicefor fixedly connecting panels for use in building consists of a couplingmember 1,. a holder member 2, a plug 3 and a wedge 4.

The coupling member 1 shown in the drawings is a shaped material made ofa hard synthetic resin or metal such as aluminum or the like. Saidcoupling member 1 has a projection 5 and side arms 6, both beingintegrally formed therewith. Said projection 5 extends, for example,centrally from said coupling member 1 so as to partition a spacingbetween two arms into two groove-like recesses. Thus, the couplingmember 1 presents an E- shaped cross section. Side arms 6 are bent at aright angleat their lower portions to extend outwardly to form retainingportions 8 thereat. An inside wall of each arm 6 is preferably providedwith fine scores so as to perfectly preventa holder member 2 from beingfrictionally slipped out therefrom when said holder memretain plugs '3in place during a long period of service.

or the like, a plug made of a resilient synthetic resin or a L'shapedcross section and considering of a bent portion formedat one side toserve as a support piece 9 for carrying the panel sheet and the otherside portion encesses formed at a shaped material and a wedge is Idriven into a hole of said plug, thereby firmly securing 1 panels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device forfixedly connecting panels for use in building, wherein, when replacementof a panel is required i gaging the arm to serve as a holding piece 10.

- FIGS. 3 through 5 show a plug and a wedge, in which said plug 3 ismade of a resilient synthetic resin or rubber and provided at its upperhead portion 11 with hole 12, into which the wedge 4 is driven. The sizeand the shape of said hole substantially conform to the size and the,shapeofthe wedge 4. Said plug 3 is split from the vicinity of the headportion 11 downwardly into two legs 13 with a spacing l4 interposedtherebetween. The dimension of said spacing 14 formed between two legs13 is smaller than the thickness of the wedge 4. Said spacing 14 iscontinuous to the hole 12 to form a guide spacing for the wedge 4. Theplug 3 is fitted in each of recesses 7.'

The wedge 4, as shown in FIG. 3, is made of a hard 3 material such asaluminum or the like and has substanbuilding use, in which the device isapplicable for connecting any type of panel made of any kind of materialand having any thickness; the practicality of the device is extremelywidened; and a coupling member is concealed out of sight to enhance theappearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS tiallya uniform thickness throughout.A catch 15 is provided at a head portion of said wedge 4 for theconvenience of pulling out said wedge 4, after it has been fitted in theplug 3.

FIG. 6 shows panels ina connected condition.

In attachment, the coupling member 1 is fixed at its bottom face 16 byabonding agent or screws to a pillar or the like, or both the upper andlower ends are secured by means of 'a separately prepared attachingcomponent such as a L-shaped angle or the like to a ceiling, a floorboard, a pillar, a wall board or the like. As an alternative, thecoupling member 1, in addition to the afore-mentioned structure, may beprovided with a support piece 17 integrally formed to extend from saidbottom face 16 opposite to said projection 5, said support piece 17being adapted to be connectable at its free end to other component bymeans of a bolt and a nut.

Otherwise, another projection 5, arms 6 and retaining pieces 8 may beintegrally and symmetrically provided at the other end of said supportpiece 17. With such provisions, the coupling member 1 not only isconnectable to any component such as a wall face, but also V 'Str c ture x: l V Theijeaftena sheetofpanel;1218' is placed withits sure 7edge'io edge relationship ,7 faee engegingiw ith'theimciersideofretaifiing poirtinf fi 6."An adju'stabiedeikicef6?se ring anelslina buildy 8'0l the coupling member l, and thEfLihfijhOldfifmend ifig'is' truczuretoaceommedate"panels of Vagr'flngllzigkj 7 her21s; inserted ,lnfthe Coupling member} with the .rnesses' eornprising agcouplinggmemberhaving at leastf upper'sid'e' of support portiqn a bufiiig with the panel one lngitiidinal gmQVeSIdL-Shaped holdergmember 7' :ilie embddime tilldt teclflriFIG. foteeimecti'ng comparative]y arthiclcparielis how ri, i

irig stru'cture to accommodate panels f vafyirig thick eoi'lplingmemb ri1 g nsertzible in said g o mi n messes comprising a couplingrmember"having at least La wedgeinsertable insaidgrqovejandeiwedgefinsertsurface 38 as well as with the holder portion I1 0 engage" withdne'legnf said inembef beiflg adjustably lre'ceiv- I ing withlthearmfiSucceedingly,theplugfl is fittedixi ga lqlewithl ngrepevealedtheolhegleg extendin'g inor' w 5 l y'thege g rl 1 jqint; lrip19 ismbunied{0ii he; utside efftheblu' ,rthe dei/ 1. An adjustabledevice f6: seciuringija nels-ln anelvbetweri sxd nurrfi aiiy onerectangular smocth sided len'gitudinal 'grqove; an able in said plug toe xpand said pliigagainsl said hdlde'r,

i L-s haped holder memberiwithone legof said member memberWithinsaidigfdeye; saidfco upling'membefim I being'smdothvsided andadjustably receivable within 'eluding a seeqfidlongiiudinalpgrooyeparallel tdsiaid V said g i'oove for sliding comactl with acoirespo'ndingf} first; mentionedgroveya second :L-lshaped holder,

7 side ofsaid longitudinaldgrbove, and the other leg exmember adfiistably eeeived insaidfeco idgroove;and i tending normally therefromto receive ndSecurej the ase'con'clplugdioag ipsaid lsecondholderlmembef'in I" V l V edge of a panelbetweensaidhgrmally extending legsell(tsecbricl,gi ove whereidsaidcoupling member'is' 'a clzsaid couplingmember; plug insertable in said I BshgpedWiih threeleg'membersfisuppmted by' andl'ex- 1 groove wherein'the top surface of saidplugr isr on line tending noima'lly from ra commonba smembeifit forml Ywithor below thffronit fa'ce: (if'said 'pa nek ai d 'a wedge V insiertable in said plugftq expand said plug against Said holder memberwithinsaid g r oovle.

e edge thereofthe sam thic n sses the thieknes s'of saidi' Ynormallyextendingleg, wherein saidnurmally extend? aidpa'rielimeihberjlongitiidindl; wove ,fdrfrietidngil, I engagement therebetweenand to secur'esaid'panei" member gai nst said ccupling member. 5

j bet ineliicles leg'ne'rmally extending:butwatdlyflthexie i whereihsaid pan elis received betweenisaidinormally holder memberl (1) saidfirst and se cofldmentidn d gicdvesg; t he'lcer te le g of sgidfleigsextending beyond the ,twoj outer legs;;and l g i said'twe edtjeilegslhzfiing pfaiielheldihg flanges attheir; I i V "2; The deviceof'claim 1, for use in combiiiatibn with free'ends'endiextendingnofmallfodtwfdly therefrom; l d a panel membe rvhavingialongit dinal groove in; one 1 8'. An adj stbledeyicefof securingpaneisiri'a build- Q i V 'i'pg1 utdre;t a *timnidelt"paneledefivary'ingl'ihicke l l A l fl fi ompri 'g' fi PIT inglegof saidholdermemberisforceablyfinsertablein ror'ie lpngiti din alB bby 5 with: Jolieleg S a'id r d 'lBJTliedei ice'ofclaim hwherein said 'g m' erm farmextending llelgfand tlhein qr mallyr exiexiding' legef said P 4. Adevice for fixedlyfeonneciihg pa nelsl" fQr use iin V 'seeend gro qve-jandgef'seed fid pluglto gripsaid lsecond, V

7 building as 'set forth in claimrl-lwhereinlsaid wedge is melee; membe;in saidfs'econdwgroeve, said cp ipling "I I V 7 provided with a catch'portion extending h m allyffemg member; beii giE shapedgwithithfe -the outer end thereof tflwlimiiqthe entry bf said wedge 1 V 7 into said plug arld tomprovidefmeans for extra ciing said; member flto i fe r nilsaidifirg -and f'seeend meniiQned Q I l' Wedge fmm said,pliig.' 7

bet includes 211 second longitudinal r-groove parallelytd freeendsiandexiendingnoi'nially 0ufimmzllyj,therelifoni; and of the samedefinition as gsaid first mentioned I I V 1, v a V gr'doves; ihecemeifleg fef jeaidjlegsfex t'endihg beyond; "5. The d'evice of claim 11;whereinsaid'cqgipling mem 7 ibe twe o'uter legs having panelliqldingflange's at the andisaid twoout'e legs haviir lg panelihdldingflanges at I 3 groc've; a second Id-shaped holder membergof the'same j"their free: ends mid extending r n outwardly, I definition as saidfirst defined L ShaPed holdermember therefrom; andsaid ba'semember beingshapedlto form a third groove on the side opposite said leg supportingside to receive a support structure therein.

9. An adjustable device for securing panels in a building structure toaccommodate panels of varying thicknesses comprising a coupling memberhaving at least one longitudinal groove; an L-shaped holder member withone leg of said member being adjustably receivable within said grooveand the other leg extending normally therefrom to receive and secure theedge of a panel between said normally extending leg and said couplingmember; a plug insertable in said groove; and a wedge insertable in saidplug to expand said plug against said holder member within said groove;said coupling member including a second longitudinal groove parallel tosaid first mentioned groove; 21 second L-shaped holder member adjustablyreceivablein said second groove; and a second plug to grip said secondholder member in said second groove, said holder members beinginsertable to different depths in said coupling member grooves to securepanels of different thicknesses.

10. An adjustable device for securing panels of varying thickness in abuilding structure, each of said panels having parallel front and backsurfaces and a longitudinal edge surface extending perpendicularlytherebetween defining the panel thickness, and longitudinal front andback marginal edge portions on said front and back surfaces,respectively, adjacent said longitudinal face extending laterally fromthe open end of said longitudinal groove and parallel to the plane ofsaid panel, said lateralsurface facially contacting said back panelsurface along said backmarginal edge portion; and L- shaped holdermemberhaving a substantially rigid smooth-sided first leg being, adjustablereceivable within said groove and a substantially rigid second legextending normally therefrom parallel to both said 7 front surface ofsaid panel and said flat lateral surface,

said second leg having a face portion defined by the in-:

side surface of the normally extending leg. facially contacting saidfront surface of said panel along said front marginal edge portion, saidface portion and said flat lateral surface defining a closely fittingslot, said holder member holdably securing said panel in said slot alongsaid front and back marginal edge portions of said panel; a retainingplug insertable in said groove to a depth below the surface of saidpanel, and a wedge in-,

sertable in said plug to expand said plug againstsaid first leg of saidholder member within said groove, thus retaining said holder member insaid groove to secure said slot around said panel edge and marginal edgeportions.

1. An adjustable device for securing panels in a building structure toaccommodate panels of varying thicknesses comprising a coupling memberhaving at least one rectangular smooth sided longitudinal groove; anL-shaped holder member with one leg of said member being smooth sidedand adjustably receivable within said groove for sliding contact with acorresponding side of said longitudinal groove, and the other legextending normally therefrom to receive and secure the edge of a panelbetween said normally extending leg and said coupling member; a pluginsertable in said groove wherein the top surface of said plug is online with or below the front face of said panel; and a wedge insertablein said plug to expand said plug against said holder member within saidgroove.
 2. The device of claim 1, for use in combination with a panelmember having a longitudinal groove in one edge thereof the samethickness as the thickness of said normally extending leg, wherein saidnormally extending leg of said holder member is forceably insertable insaid panel member longitudinal groove for frictional engagementtherebetween and to secure said panel member against said couplingmember.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling member includesa leg normally extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the open end ofsaid groove to form a smooth sided L configuration with a side of saidgroove wherein said panel is received between said normally extendingleg and the normally extending leg of said holder member.
 4. A devicefor fixedly connecting panels for use in building as set forth in claim1 wherein said wedge is provided with a catch portion extending normallyfrom the outer end thereof to limit the entry of said wedge into saidplug and to provide means for extracting said wedge from said plug. 5.The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling member includes a secondlongitudinal groove parallel to and of the same definition as said firstmentioned groove; a second L-shaped holder member of the same definitionas said first defined L-shaped holder member adjustably receivable insaid second groove; and a second plug to grip said second holder memberin said second groove, whereby a pair of panels are securable in edge toedge relationship.
 6. An adjustable device for securing panels in abuilding structure to accommodate panels of varying thicknessescomprising a coupling member having at least one longitudinal groove; anL-shaped holder member with one leg of said member being adjustablyreceivable within said groove and the other leg extending normallytherefrom to receive and secure the edge of a panel between saidnormally extending leg and said coupling member; a plug insertable insaid groove; and a wedge insertable in said plug to expand said plugagainst said holder member within said groove; said plug being formedwith a head portion through which a hole is provided, and a pair ofbifurcated portions extending downwardly from said head portion, saidhole being adapted to receive said wedge therethrough.
 7. An adjustabledevice for securing panels in a building structure to accommodate panelsof varying thicknesses comprising a coupling member having at least onelongitudinal groove; an L-shaped holder member with one leg of saidmember beiNg adjustably receivable within said groove and the other legextending normally therefrom to receive and secure the edge of a panelbetween said normally extending leg and said coupling member; a pluginsertable in said groove; and a wedge insertable in said groove; and awedge insertable in said plug to expand said plug against said holdermember within said groove; said coupling member including a secondlongitudinal groove parallel to said first mentioned groove; a secondL-shaped holder member adjustably received in said second groove; and asecond plug to grip said second holder member in said second groove,wherein said coupling member is E-shaped with three leg memberssupported by and extending normally from a common base member to formsaid first and second mentioned grooves; the center leg of said legsextending beyond the two outer legs; and said two outer legs havingpanel holding flanges at their free ends and extending normallyoutwardly therefrom.
 8. An adjustable device for securing panels in abuilding structure to accommodate panels of varying thicknessescomprising a coupling member having at least one longitudinal groove; anL-shaped holder member with one leg of said member being adjustablyreceivable within said groove and the other leg extending normallytherefrom to receive and secure the edge of a panel between saidnormally extending leg and said coupling member; a plug insertable insaid groove; and a wedge insertable in said plug to expand said plugagainst said holder member within said groove; said coupling memberincluding a second longitudinal groove parallel to said first mentiongroove; a second L-shaped holder member adjustably receivable in saidsecond groove; and a second plug to grip said second holder member insaid second groove, said coupling member being E-shaped with three legmembers supported by and extending normally from a common base member toform said first and second mentioned grooves; the center leg of saidlegs extending beyond the two outer legs having panel holding flanges attheir free ends and extending normally outwardly therefrom; and said twoouter legs having panel holding flanges at their free ends and extendingnormally outwardly therefrom; and said base member being shaped to forma third groove on the side opposite said leg supporting side to receivea support structure therein.
 9. An adjustable device for securing panelsin a building structure to accommodate panels of varying thicknessescomprising a coupling member having at least one longitudinal groove; anL-shaped holder member with one leg of said member being adjustablyreceivable within said groove and the other leg extending normallytherefrom to receive and secure the edge of a panel between saidnormally extending leg and said coupling member; a plug insertable insaid groove; and a wedge insertable in said plug to expand said plugagainst said holder member within said groove; said coupling memberincluding a second longitudinal groove parallel to said first mentionedgroove; a second L-shaped holder member adjustably receivable in saidsecond groove; and a second plug to grip said second holder member insaid second groove, said holder members being insertable to differentdepths in said coupling member grooves to secure panels of differentthicknesses.
 10. An adjustable device for securing panels of varyingthickness in a building structure, each of said panels having parallelfront and back surfaces and a longitudinal edge surface extendingperpendicularly therebetween defining the panel thickness, andlongitudinal front and back marginal edge portions on said front andback surfaces, respectively, adjacent said longitudinal edge surface andextending laterally inwardly therefrom, the device comprising: acoupling member having at least one rectangular, smooth-sidedlongitudinal groove therein and a substantially rigid, flat lateralsurface extending laterally from the open end of said longitudinalgroove and parallel to The plane of said panel, said lateral surfacefacially contacting said back panel surface along said back marginaledge portion; and L-shaped holder member having a substantially rigidsmooth-sided first leg being adjustable receivable within said grooveand a substantially rigid second leg extending normally therefromparallel to both said front surface of said panel and said flat lateralsurface, said second leg having a face portion defined by the insidesurface of the normally extending leg, facially contacting said frontsurface of said panel along said front marginal edge portion, said faceportion and said flat lateral surface defining a closely fitting slot,said holder member holdably securing said panel in said slot along saidfront and back marginal edge portions of said panel; a retaining pluginsertable in said groove to a depth below the surface of said panel,and a wedge insertable in said plug to expand said plug against saidfirst leg of said holder member within said groove, thus retaining saidholder member in said groove to secure said slot around said panel edgeand marginal edge portions.